Dan's Taste of Summer Countdown: Susan Hearn, Suhru Wines

Dan’s Harvest East End, the can’t-miss food and wine classic, will be held on Saturday, August 20, at McCall Vineyard and Ranch in Cutchogue. Suhru Wines owner Susan Hearn will be there. As she says, “It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with friends in the industry, as well as the consumers who support us, and celebrate Long Island wine. The timing is great. We are all so busy during the summer. Dan’s Harvest East End gives us an opportunity to all get together before the harvest starts.

Which of your wines would you most like to serve to another oenophile?
Our Shiraz. It’s not that widely grown on Long Island. That makes it unique. I think our Shiraz is really expressive of the varietal fruit aromas and flavors characteristic of the grape.

How do you feel about using wines in cocktails?
I’m not opposed to using wine in cocktails. I just haven’t. I’m more of a wine and beer gal, than a cocktail drinker.

What’s your local beverage, or cocktail, of choice this season?
Long Island IPA is my beer choice and Sauvignon Blanc for wine. Macari Vineyards’ Sauvignon Blanc is one of my favorites.

What’s your favorite pairing of local wine and food?
You really can’t go wrong pairing wine with seafood. My favorite is Sauvignon Blanc and Peconic Bay oysters.

What are some of your favorite East End restaurants?
That’s a tough question as there are so many fabulous restaurants on the East End. I don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed having a meal at the Hellenic Restaurant in East Marion or at the Jamesport Manor Inn in Jamesport.

What’s the next frontier in Long Island winemaking?
Self-confidence. The Long Island wine industry is over 40 years old. We have some history and are garnering more attention every day. Many of us are taking risks and trying new things. We need to have the confidence to make some mistakes in the short term, trying to push the boundaries of wine excellence, while also having the courage to maintain and improve on traditional methods that have worked for us in the past.

Please complete this sentence: If money were no object, I would drink Penfolds Grange. I’m a big fan of both Australian wines and Shiraz. I’ve always wanted to try the 2008 vintage.

I could survive on a desert island if I just had: I’d start with plenty of fresh water. My wine of choice on a desert island would be Pinot Grigio. For food, I could be very happy with lots of fresh seafood that I could catch/gather myself along with nuts, spinach and tomatoes. I would also want mangos and bananas to satisfy my cravings for something sweet. Just thinking about these foods is making me hungry.

Dan’s Taste of Summer kicks off with Dan’s GrillHampton hosted by Adam Richman on Friday, July 22 and continues on Saturday, July 23, with Dan’s Taste of Two Forks presented by Farrell Building Company hosted by Alex Guarnaschelli, both on the waterfront at Fairview Farm at Mecox in Bridgehampton. VIP tickets for GrillHampton are $185 and offer early access to the event beginning at 7 p.m. General Admission, from 8 p.m.–10:30 p.m., is $135. VIP tickets for Taste of Two Forks are $295 and offer early access beginning at 6:30 p.m. General Admission, from 7:30 p.m.–10 p.m., is $185.

The oceanfront food and drink fest ClambakeMTK at Gurney’s Montauk hosted by Marc Murphy and Eden Grinshpan premieres on Saturday, July 30. General Admission for ClambakeMTK, from 7:30–10 p.m., is $150. VIP tickets are $250, and include access to the after-party from 10 p.m.–12 a.m.

Dan’s Harvest East End, the can’t-miss food and wine classic, hosted by Geoffrey Zakarian, is Saturday, August 20, at McCall Vineyard and Ranch in Cutchogue. VIP tickets for Harvest East End are $285 and offer early access beginning at 6:30 p.m. General Admission, from 7:30 p.m.–10 p.m., is $135.

A portion of this year’s ticket proceeds from GrillHampton and Taste of Two Forks will benefit All For The East End (AFTEE), a 501(c)(3) that showcases and provides support to the more than 1,000 charity organizations in the five East End towns. A portion of proceeds from Harvest East End benefits Long Island Farm Bureau and HRHCare.

To purchase tickets and get more info on all Dan’s Taste of Summer events, visit DansTaste.com.